thestringshredder
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Tejas is better than MiG, it's the best: Pilot
Group Captain Suneeth Krishna
There's a long way to go before my boys can touch it, " the then Air Chief Marshal PV Naik had said on January 10, 2011, the day India's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas got its first initial operational clearance (IOC-1 ).
It had spoilt the party for Team Tejas , prompting a second IOC. But if the experience of National Flight Testing Centre (NFTC) pilots is any measure , Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne shouldn't have problems with his boys taking India's pride to the skies.
"Kick the tyre and burn the fire . It's ready," one of them said a day before IOC-2 is scheduled here . Group Captain Suneeth Krishna , who has been involved with the aircraft since its first flight on January 2001, said : "It is a pilot's aircraft".
Krishna had flown a Mirage trailing the LCA when it took off for the first time over 12 years ago with Wing Commander (retd ) Rajiv Kothiyal at the controls.
Today , the aircraft is different .Compared to two years ago, the angle of attack has been increased to 24 degrees from 17, it has been integrated with a basic electronic warfare suite, has lesser maintenance issues, more weapons and comes with an enhanced flight envelop.
"I remember the first flight vividly . Wing Co Kothiyal and I took off together . And to see that aircraft lift off was a moment of unrivalled pride . It was ours and it was flying . Today , I'm proud because it has evolved," he said . Like most IAF pilots of his time , his heart is with the MiG . "AMiG is a MiG, our first aircraft . We used to call it the Ferrari," he says . MiG-21 FL was decommissioned last week.
So what's the LCA? "It's better than the Ferrari ," he says . "It has an inherent advantage . We have the design , so we can alter it to our needs . Also, inputs from flying the MiG, Mirage and Sukhoi have been used in designing the cockpit . I can say it's the best. The pilot interface is amazing ," he said.
Krishna has the maximum number of flying hours on the Tejas . His colleague , Group Captain Venugopal , said : "There were a few upgrades the IAF wanted two years ago . We've achieved them now , and the aircraft is ready to be handed over ."
He said the LCA is an ongoing programme . "We've achieved certain targets and have some before the final operational clearance (FOC). Even after that , we can keep improving it," he said.
Link - Tejas is better than MiG, it’s the best: Pilot | idrw.org
Group Captain Suneeth Krishna
There's a long way to go before my boys can touch it, " the then Air Chief Marshal PV Naik had said on January 10, 2011, the day India's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas got its first initial operational clearance (IOC-1 ).
It had spoilt the party for Team Tejas , prompting a second IOC. But if the experience of National Flight Testing Centre (NFTC) pilots is any measure , Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne shouldn't have problems with his boys taking India's pride to the skies.
"Kick the tyre and burn the fire . It's ready," one of them said a day before IOC-2 is scheduled here . Group Captain Suneeth Krishna , who has been involved with the aircraft since its first flight on January 2001, said : "It is a pilot's aircraft".
Krishna had flown a Mirage trailing the LCA when it took off for the first time over 12 years ago with Wing Commander (retd ) Rajiv Kothiyal at the controls.
Today , the aircraft is different .Compared to two years ago, the angle of attack has been increased to 24 degrees from 17, it has been integrated with a basic electronic warfare suite, has lesser maintenance issues, more weapons and comes with an enhanced flight envelop.
"I remember the first flight vividly . Wing Co Kothiyal and I took off together . And to see that aircraft lift off was a moment of unrivalled pride . It was ours and it was flying . Today , I'm proud because it has evolved," he said . Like most IAF pilots of his time , his heart is with the MiG . "AMiG is a MiG, our first aircraft . We used to call it the Ferrari," he says . MiG-21 FL was decommissioned last week.
So what's the LCA? "It's better than the Ferrari ," he says . "It has an inherent advantage . We have the design , so we can alter it to our needs . Also, inputs from flying the MiG, Mirage and Sukhoi have been used in designing the cockpit . I can say it's the best. The pilot interface is amazing ," he said.
Krishna has the maximum number of flying hours on the Tejas . His colleague , Group Captain Venugopal , said : "There were a few upgrades the IAF wanted two years ago . We've achieved them now , and the aircraft is ready to be handed over ."
He said the LCA is an ongoing programme . "We've achieved certain targets and have some before the final operational clearance (FOC). Even after that , we can keep improving it," he said.
Link - Tejas is better than MiG, it’s the best: Pilot | idrw.org
